Charlie Brennan

Charlie Brennan hosts the Charlie Brennan Show weekdays from 8:30 to 11 a.m. Brennan discusses issues, interviews newsmakers and takes listener calls. Best known for his passion for St. Louis, Brennan was named “One of the Most Influential St. Louisans” five years in a row by The St. Louis Business Journal.Brennan is also “Provocateur” of KETC-TV’s Donnybrook, the highest-rated locally produced talk show on PBS.

Brennan is hardly tied to a microphone: In 2015, he led a community-wide clean-up of Ferguson, hosted a furniture drive for the Salvation Army and won a legal case before the Missouri Supreme Court. In 2014, Brennan narrated "The Night Before Christmas" with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra. It was his seventh appearance with the SLSO. In 2013, Brennan wrote "Amazing St. Louis: 250 Years of Great Tales and Curiosities" in honor of St. Louis’ 250th birthday. In 2012, Charlie helped lead a successful campaign to restore medical benefits to the blind in Missouri. Also in 2012, Brennan organized a group of volunteers to plant daffodils on area highways. In 2011, Brennan and his listeners raised $105,000 to erect a statue honoring Chuck Berry, the Father of Rock 'n' Roll. Brennan presided over the statue’s dedication in a ceremony including the Isley Brothers, Little Richard, Boz Scaggs, Michael McDonald, Elvis Costello and others. Also in 2011, Brennan asked listeners to call and urge then-Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to stay the execution of death row inmate Richard Clay, an action later taken by Nixon to the surprise of his critics and supporters. Clay later appeared on KMOX to thank Brennan and his listeners. Brennan has organized five campaigns sending care packages to troops serving overseas. On KMOX, he exposed litter and trash problems on downtown streets which led to the establishment of St. Louis’ Problem Properties Court. Brennan also worked to promote ordinances allowing street musicians and food vendors in downtown St. Louis. Along with the American Institute of Architects, he led a successful effort to clean up downtown storefronts. Charlie and his listeners raised hundreds of thousands of dollars on his show to plant flowers in downtown St. Louis. Charlie also raised funds to install 27 historic plaques in the downtown St. Louis area. The St. Louis Business Journal named Brennan “A Most Valuable Volunteer in St. Louis” and St. Louis Magazine called him one of St. Louis’ 50 Most Powerful People. Brennan is a former recipient of the Press Club of St. Louis’ Media Person of the Year Award, the Downtown St. Louis Partnership’s Civic Betterment Award, the Jewish Community Relations Council’s Norman Stack Award, the American Society of Landscape Architects’ Civic Stewardship Award, the St. Louis Society of the Blind Jim Butler Award, and the St. Louis Restaurant Association’s Media Person of the Year. Brennan was hired by KMOX General Manager Robert Hyland to work evenings and weekends in 1988. Within two years, he began working the mid-morning shift, where he has been ever since. He lives in St. Louis with his wife and children.

Quick Questions with Charlie:What is your favorite St. Louis activity? Favorite restaurants are Biggie’s on Watson and Gulf Shores on Olive. Favorite activity is hanging out with my family.

What would you do if you weren't in radio? I would be a stage or film actor. (Look out Steve Buscemi!)

Do you have any pets? No pets, unless kids count.

Share one random fact. I was baptized in the same church as Phil Donahue.

If you could live anywhere else in the country, where would it be? Jackson Hole, Wyoming or Salt Lake City, Utah or the Upper East Side of Manhattan